August 28, 2000 Number of American Memory Fellows Reaches 200

50 Fellows 'Graduate' During Fourth Annual Summer Institute

Press Contact: Guy Lamolinara (202) 707-9217
Public Contact: Susan Veccia (202) 707-6151

American Memory Fellows, now in its fourth year, is a yearlong program that offers teachers, librarians and media specialists in grades 4-12 the opportunity to learn how best to use electronic resources in the classroom. Two hundred educators from across the nation, including the 50 from the class of 2000, have now participated in the program.

These electronic "primary sources" are digitized versions of rare and unique materials in the Library's collections, available from the American Memory Web site at www.loc.gov.

Though much of the work takes place in the Fellows' schools, the cornerstone of the American Memory Fellows Program is the Summer Institute, held in Washington, D.C. For the first time, the entire program was held at the Library of Congress, in its National Digital Library Learning Center. Also for the first time, the institute was split into two sessions. The first session, July 16-21, was for elementary and middle school educators, grades 4-8; the second session, July 23-28, was for high school educators, grades 9-12.

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington welcomed the 25 two-person teams of educators to the National Digital Library American Memory Fellows Program. The secret of education, said Dr. Billington, quoting from the poet Yeats, "is not filling up a bucket, but lighting a fire."

The experience at the Library of Congress was intended to do just that. While touring the Library's curatorial divisions, one teacher remarked that seeing the actual primary sources -- the rare and unique items held by the Library -- was inspirational, provoking "the natural interest in us all."

Throughout the week, the American Memory Fellows worked in teams to develop original teaching units that draw upon the American Memory online materials. To support this development, the Fellows participated in workshops focusing on online searching, analyzing primary sources and designing curriculum with primary sources; a wide range of other topics was also explored. During the year that follows, the educators will refine and test their lessons with their students and colleagues back home. In the spring, these "road-tested" lessons will be submitted to the Library of Congress for inclusion on the Learning Page (memory.loc.gov/learn), a Web site designed to help teachers, students and lifelong learners effectively use the American Memory collections. The site provides guidance to finding and using items within these primary source collections.

Recognizing that training is a process that must be supported, the Summer Institute is "extended" through online collaboration and discussion groups that continue throughout the year. "Graduating" Fellows are expected to help train others, both in their own school communities and throughout the nation at workshops, conferences and other professional gatherings. For their efforts in exploring the roles that digital libraries can play in improving humanities teaching and learning, American Memory Fellows can earn three graduate credits from the University of Virginia, through the Curry School of Education's Center for Technology and Teacher Education.

The 25 teams selected for the 2000 American Memory Fellows Program came from 23 states -- as far as Hawaii and as close as Fairfax, Va. They represent both public and private schools, large and small, in metropolitan, suburban and rural communities. The 25 teams selected were chosen from a pool of more than 140 team applications.

The American Memory Fellows Program seeks to develop a nationwide community of practicing educators who will help others understand the nature of primary source materials and how they can both enrich the curriculum and draw students -- sometimes even reluctant learners -- into the learning process.

The 200 educators from 43 states and the District of Columbia who have participated in the institute have shared their experiences not only in their hometowns but also in cities nationwide when they are attending professional events. The Fellows have conducted workshops on the road and in their schools, reaching deep into their communities.

As one Fellow recently stated: "Once in a while a unique experience comes along that has a profound impact. As an educator dedicated to improving learning for kids, this has been one of those experiences. I sense a tremendous obligation to share what I have experienced with everyone."

Applications for the 2001 American Memory Fellows Program will be available Dec. 1, 2000, from the Library of Congress Learning Page, at memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/amfp/intro.html. To be considered, the application must be postmarked by Feb. 26, 2001; no applications will be accepted by fax or e-mail. Selection decisions will be announced the week of April 23, 2001.

A list of the 2000 American Memory Fellows is attached.

Library of Congress American Memory Fellows for 2000

ARKANSAS
John Harrison & Sylvia Chudy
Arkansas School for Math & Science
Hot Springs, AR 71901

CALIFORNIA
Mike Goldberg & Bonnie Goldberg
Bell High School
Bell, CA 90201

Mary Pat Phillips & Karen Joesten
Cabrillo Middle School
Santa Clara, CA 95051

COLORADO
Mary Johnson & Linda Thompson
Eaglewood Middle School
Colorado Springs, CO 80919

CONNECTICUT
Ann Kouatly & Tim Burke
Windham High School
Willimantic, CT 06226

FLORIDA
Luhr Beckman & David Gehler
Oak Hill School
Gainesville, FL 32607

HAWAII
Catherine Matsuno & Claire Griffin
Sacred Hearts Academy
Honolulu, HI 96816

ILLINOIS
Laurie Williams & Doreen Johnson
Evanston Township High School
Evanston, IL 60204-3494

INDIANA
Robert Spear & Jo Adams
Helfrich Park Middle School
St. Evansville, IN 47712

LOUISIANA
Teresa Simoneaux & Beverly Arabie
Golden Meadow Middle School
Golden Meadow, LA 70357

MARYLAND
Nancy Fitch & Charles Flanagan
The Key School
Annapolis, MD 21403

MICHIGAN
Scott Durham & Margaret Lincoln
Lakeview High School
Battle Creek, MI 49015

NEVADA
George Breaz & Penny Manly
Advanced Technology Academy
Las Vegas, NV 89123

NEW YORK
Janet Williammee & Rhoda King
Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School
Cherry Valley, NY 13320

Gail Petri & Doris Waud
Fyle Elementary School
Rochester, NY 14623

OHIO
Jennifer Schwelik & Gregory Deegan
Beachwood High School
Beachwood, OH 44122

OREGON
Nancy Woodward & Patricia Zonkel
McKay High School
Salem, OR 97305-1221

RHODE ISLAND
Maureen Spaight
East Providence High School
East Providence, RI 02814

Helen Johnson
Wickford Middle School
Kingston, RI 02852

TEXAS
Dorothy Lukenbill & Sara Sadowsky
Coakley Middle School
Harlingen, TX 78550

Daphne Jordan & Mary Jo Humphreys
Great Oaks Elementary
Round Rock, TX 78681

UTAH
Terri McGuire & Donna Jorgensen
Meridian School
Provo, UT 84606

VIRGINIA
Pamela Hill & Carmella Beggs
Olde Creek Center
Fairfax, VA 22003

Janice Jackson & Cora Ames-DeBraux
Lafayette-Winona Middle School
Norfolk, VA 23509

WISCONSIN
Patricia Solfest & Kimberly Wardean
Altoona Middle School
Altoona, WI 54720

WYOMING
Colleen Williams & Julia Hoagland
Cody High School
Cody, WY 82414

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PR 00-121
2000-08-29
ISSN 0731-3527